And you are not allowed to take photos or speak. Every few minutes when the natural human voices start rising, the guards "Shhhhhhh" everyone loudly. And they are constantly yelling at people for taking photos. These actions also take part in making this place less than holy or serene and more of a tourist pit. I bet Michelangelo would be bummed, err, stoked - that millions of people flock to and pay to see his work.

Michelangelo's "Pieta." He was only 22 or 23 when he sculpted this. Substantial damage occurred to the sculpture on May 21, 1972 when a mentally disturbed geologist named Laszlo Toth walked into the chapel and attacked the sculpture with a geologist's hammer while shouting "I am Jesus Christ." Onlookers took many of the pieces of marble that flew off. Later, some pieces were returned, but many were not, including Mary's nose, which had to be reconstructed from a block cut out of her back.

Pope John Paul II, the likeable one, (as opposed to Ratzinger's scary face.) was Beatified while we were in Copenhagen, and he is now buried here inside the basilica. (apparently bumping out some other pope who was buried there.)

The place is immense inside, and really awe inspiring. These photos do not do it justice.

Deanna has a soft spot for the old pope.

Skeleton with an hourglass covered in marble cloth.

Inlaid marble.

Outside the Swiss Guard was chatting up some females. Unlike the guards at Buckingham palace, these guy can talk.

I would find it hard to instill fear in an attacker, when I look like a court jester.

Many people write postcards and send them from the Vatican because they have a great postal service, and of course, are a sovereign city-state, and technically not Italy.

The youngs and the olds on a holy high after seeing so much holiness.

The front of St. Peters.

Chair-mageddon. The Beatification ceremony has not even been cleaned up yet.

Question resulting from Emilie´s one..
Would you dare to fight one or let´s say 666 of these guards?

Posted By: S on June 13th, 2011 at 09:30AM PST

I don't believe in god, and therefore all of religions varying organized evolutions also mean nothing to me, and as an extension, the structures built in their names also hold no sanctity in my eyes. Yet, out of respect for history, beauty, and my fellow humans, I would not wish to graffiti any churches.

Posted By: ed on June 13th, 2011 at 11:40AM PST

I understand, but I was not thinking about doing it in or on a church or holy object, just as a part of the city on some random wall. Thanks alot for the answer though. The long interview with you from Italy when you talk about religion is really interesting. I actually have an exam in religion tomorrow, but I share many of the same views like you on religion. I am not religious myself, but I am fascinated and interested in the human, social, and political effects of religion.

Posted By: emilie on June 13th, 2011 at 01:05PM PST

Would You dare ollie one footed over the thrash can in Vatican?

Posted By: Brian Lotti on June 13th, 2011 at 02:14PM PST

Who? Me? hmm... I don't know... You know...eghhhh...

Posted By: Tony Hawk on June 13th, 2011 at 02:49PM PST

"you suck we rule"

Posted By: staubsauger on June 13th, 2011 at 03:48PM PST

Riley Hawk has that same lanky ass style as Tony. Man, how many ladies has Tony married? Imagine being a lady and able to say you fucked the guy responsible for that abomination Tony Hawk's Ride.
THUG and THPS2 were the shit though.

How did I never see this shit?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP5V0HfXFHY&feature=related
Sheckler on the Mega ramp..fuuu. I like Lizard King's clip better. under the influence and shit.

So. Um. Wow. You saw that painting that's like famous in the entire whole world. I saw the Golden gate bridge. that shit is pretty famous.

If everybody speaks at once,what will the guards do? I always like to think about what could we do if we worked together. Kill all the cops, take what we want, eat dessert before dinner.

Michelangelo,gotta love that you made God white. Thanks.

Nose slide that staircase.

Grant looks bored,on that wall.

That story is kinda fucked, you know, sometimes we gotta have nice things. and shouldn't destroy what we have. Then again,I like the buddhist approach of it will all be destroyed eventually. so don't worry about it.

how do you kilo people with that fucked up dagger thing?

Holy shit. I just realized. You can click the bottom right corner of the comment box and toggle it to make it bigger.

It's always funny to think about how people can Pick and choose what to believe in their religion,all that protestant junk. Kinda verifies that there really is no truth. Unlike science where a bullshit Hypothesis is weeded out and people admit when they're wrong. I would love it if we're all wrong.

Posted By: Jgonzalez on June 13th, 2011 at 09:50PM PST

After all these years, now you can compose your comments easier.

Thanks Jgonz for the continued commentary.

Posted By: ed on June 13th, 2011 at 10:53PM PST

I finally got on my desktop computer. So I left a bigger comment. I've been viewing your shit through my phone, and leaving little one line comments.

The olden days of coming home from school,turning on my computer and scrolling through new content and first reactions written into my comments. That was the shit.

We got john back.
d1ggitydan. Where r U?
I enjoy the musings of fellow musers.

Posted By: Jgonzalez on June 13th, 2011 at 11:04PM PST

Anyway. I'm guessing another post will be posted soon,thus killing this thread and starting a new. I randomly feel like telling you guys a cool factoid. Apparently before I was born, like in the 80's or late 70's,I don't really know. I guess my dad fucked some under age teenage girl while he was dating my mom.

Pretty cool guy,huh. Found this out since my parents are getting divorced,this one time he mentioned something about it while he was wasted drunk,but I didn't really understand. Anyway,sounds like I'm slagging him off,but I just think it's interesting. Some teenage girl would bone a random Mexican immigrant.

Dude. I just remembered while writing this shit that there's a new Spring 2011 catalog out for your merch. Fucken duffel with a Bauhaus album. I still need to buy Brainwash. but dude, guess what. I found fuckin the Flip video Extremely Sorry DVD in it's case just laying on the floor at the skatepark, I randomly felt like stopping by. and it was just there on the ground. It's the Collectors edition. but it didn't have the Sk8 dice or shoelaces. but whatever, free fucking DVD.

Posted By: Jgonzalez on June 13th, 2011 at 11:21PM PST

Yeah,it was at like 10 o'clock when I rolled by.

Posted By: Jgonzalez on June 13th, 2011 at 11:22PM PST

Where's the fart cloud? I missed the fart cloud? haha. I miss the best stuff all the time.